MADISON — Three community connectors in Madison’s Department of Civil Rights are helping residents who speak Spanish, Chinese and Hmong navigate city services — and giving city departments a channel to hear directly from the communities they serve. The roles are part of the department’s Equity and Social Justice Division. The connectors assist residents with questions involving public health, transportation, voting and other city services. They also advise city staff on making official information easier to understand before it is translated. The city created the positions after its 2018 Language Access Plan identified Spanish, Chinese and Hmong among the most commonly spoken languages in Madison after English. Division manager Kristy Kumar said the goal was to go beyond translation and make city systems more responsive to residents. Rather than simply distribute information in several languages, Kumar said, the connectors create a two-way channel: residents can raise concerns and share feedback, which can then inform how government works. That relationship can be difficult to build while residents are worried about federal immigration enforcement. Spanish community connector Enoch Melgarejo said fear of federal authorities can also make some people wary of local government, even though the city is not responsible for federal immigration actions. Statewide, federal immigration agents arrested about 1,700 people in Wisconsin between President Donald Trump’s return to office and spring 2026, with roughly 100 arrests a month reported since May 2025. The enforcement climate has made trust-building an important part of the connectors’ work. Hmong community connector Ze Yang said her role is to help people feel more confident using city resources. She has increasingly worked with middle-aged residents and children who may be trying to help their parents communicate with city agencies. Yang said some Hmong residents have lived, worked and raised families in Madison for years without knowing much about city government. The connectors meet residents where they are: at food pantries and cultural events, through radio programs and online platforms, and by helping people work through questions with city departments. Yang said showing up consistently helps residents recognize who the connectors are and what they can do. Chinese community connector Holly Chen reaches more than 1,200 people through a YouTube channel and a WeChat account and platform. She said many of the residents she helps are older adults. Melgarejo also hosts a Spanish-language program, “Conectando con tu Ciudad,” on La Movida Radio, where he interviews city employees about local services. After residents recognized him from the program, he said, they were more comfortable speaking with him when city officials sought help connecting a Spanish-speaking family with shelter during severe weather. He later learned the family had found shelter. The connectors also consult with city departments on new initiatives, raising concerns about language access and cultural inclusion. The division hopes to eventually add a connector who works in American Sign Language, which receives the city’s second-highest number of interpretation requests.